News Article

Wal-Mart Germany Employees Strike

WUPPERTAL, Germany (24 July 2000) — Last week, on 21 July, some 500 Wal-Mart Germany employees went on strike to protest the standard salary agreement the US retail giant’s German subsidiary has yet to live up to. The strike was organized by the workers’ union and was carried out under the slogan: ‘The company that […]

WUPPERTAL, Germany (24 July 2000) — Last week, on 21 July, some 500 Wal-Mart Germany employees went on strike to protest the standard salary agreement the US retail giant’s German subsidiary has yet to live up to. The strike was organized by the workers’ union and was carried out under the slogan: ‘The company that wants to be the number one German retailer should also be the number one in accepting social standards.’ This is not the first time a US company has experienced difficulties with Germany’s strong unions, especially in the area of standard salary agreements. McDonald’s and Burger King were earlier targets.
According to the Germany daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, the 500 strikers were employed at Wal-Mart’s 11 outlets and its Wuppertal headquarters. Insiders doubt that the 500 people following the union’s appeal were enough to put enough pressure on Wal-Mart to fulfill its agreement. (JB)